The last thing in his consciousness was the icy seawater, the suffocating pressure, and that pitch-black chop.
"Ugh..."
Kane struggled to open his eyelids, the blinding white light making him raise his arm in an attempt to block it.
Just this simple movement made him feel as if every bone in his body was protesting. Every inch of his muscles retained the soreness and weakness left after being utterly drained.
"Awake?"
A calm and steady voice sounded beside the bed.
Kane turned his head, his vision gradually focusing.
What came into view was the familiar ceiling of the warship's infirmary and Bogard's perpetually unchanging poker face.
He was sitting nearby, meticulously wiping his saber.
This adjutant, who usually had as little presence as a shadow, was now looking at him with the gaze one might use to examine "some kind of rare animal."
"Mr. Bogard..." Kane's voice was hoarse, "I... where am I?"
"On Admiral Sengoku's flagship."
Bogard slowly sheathed his saber, his movements fluid and smooth, producing a crisp click.
"You've been unconscious for two days. We are on our way back to Marineford."
Two days?
Kane's thoughts felt sluggish.
He only remembered being knocked unconscious by the aftershock of Roger's "Divine Departure," after which he lost all consciousness.
"How... how did the battle go?" he asked urgently, "What about Golden Lion? What about Roger?"
"Roger escaped."
Bogard's tone was calm.
"After that 'Divine Departure' split the sea, the Oro Jackson seized the opportunity to break through the encirclement. Mr. Garp missed the best chance to pursue because he prioritized rescuing you first."
Escaped, huh...
Kane sighed inwardly. This outcome was actually within expectations. A man bearing such a destiny was indeed not so easy to kill.
"But," Bogard's tone shifted, finally carrying a trace of barely concealed fluctuation, "Shiki the Golden Lion has been captured."
Kane's heart skipped a beat.
"His Grand Fleet was completely annihilated. He himself suffered severe head trauma, with significant brain damage, and has not regained consciousness yet. Admiral Sengoku has already ordered him to be transported to the Undersea Great Prison, Impel Down."
Bogard paused, giving Kane a deep look.
"The ship's rudder embedded in his head... the doctors didn't dare to remove it."
"Admiral Sengoku said that is your most brilliant medal as a Marine."
Success!
Kane gritted his molars hard to keep himself from laughing out loud in front of Bogard.
To hell with medals!
What I want is Violation Value! Tangible benefits!
Golden Lion's capture means that the future Golden Lion who would wreak havoc at Marineford no longer exists. I've even eliminated one of Luffy's future movie bosses ahead of time!
How much disruption value is that worth?
How many points?!
Seeing Kane was awake, Bogard stood up: "Rest for now. I'll go inform the Admiral and Vice Admiral."
With a click as the cabin door closed, the infirmary returned to silence.
Kane's eyes snapped open, a green light practically glowing in them.
"System! Settle the score! Get the hell out here and settle the account!!!"
Hum—!
A pale blue light screen unfolded across his retina.
[Epic Event Settlement Complete!]
[Event Name: Edd War (Collapsed Version)]
[Core Violation Behavior Assessment:]
1.
[Crimes Against Humanity]: Maliciously manipulated natural disasters, resulting in the annihilation of tens of thousands of pirates from the Golden Lion's Grand Fleet. The methods were cruel and completely violated the Basic Tenets of Naval Humanitarianism.
2.
[History Alteration]: Forcibly interfered with the outcome of the "Edd War," leading to the capture of the legendary great pirate "Golden Lion" Shiki and the premature exit of the Flying Pirates from the stage of history, causing a fractured collapse of the world's power structure!
3.
[Defiler of Fate]: Attempted to sink the ship of the "Future Pirate King," aiming to strangle the very source of the "Great Pirate Era." This action severely disrupted the gears of "Fate"!
[Comprehensive Calculation in Progress...]
[Subversion Coefficient: MAX!]
[Witness Bonus: Roger, Garp, Sengoku, Rayleigh, and thousands of surviving Marines and pirates.]
[Final Reward — Issued!]
[Congratulations, Host! Obtained Violation Value: 800,000 points!]
[Current Violation Value Balance: 935,200 points.]
"E-Eight... hundred thousand?!"
Kane stared at the long string of digits, his breath catching in his throat.
He had spent over a hundred thousand points earlier just to save his skin, and now not only had he gotten his principal and interest back, but it had multiplied several times over!
"I'm rich... I'm really rich this time..."
Lying on his bed, the corners of Kane's mouth curled up wildly as he let out a series of "Heh heh heh" eerie chuckles, looking just like the foolish son of a wealthy landlord.
With this much money, wasn't Awakened Devil Fruits and advanced Haki techniques just whatever he wanted?
Just then, heavy footsteps sounded outside the cabin door.
Before he even saw the person, that iconic booming voice was already making the door panel vibrate.
"Puhahahaha! I told you the kid was tough! Getting hit by Roger's Haki is nothing! I used to get slashed by that bastard all the time back in the day!"
Kane's eyes sharpened, instantly switching modes.
All traces of greed and ecstasy were perfectly concealed within a second.
Replacing them was a face full of weakness and pallor, yet with eyes that remained resolute and unyielding.
Actor Mode, ON!
BAM!
The cabin door was shoved open roughly.
Garp's towering figure almost blocked the entire doorway, with the stern-faced Sengoku, wearing his round-framed glasses, following behind him.
"Puhahahaha! You're finally awake, kid!"
Garp rushed to the bedside in a few large strides, his large, fan-like hand landing with a thump on Kane's shoulder.
"Cough! Cough, cough..."
Kane felt his recently healed bones were nearly jolted apart again, the pain instantly draining the color from his face.
"Vice Admiral Garp..."
"You did good!" Garp grinned widely, his face full of unconcealed pride. "As expected of my man! You actually cracked open Golden Lion's head! Puhahahaha!"
"Garp! He's still injured!"
Sengoku scolded with a frown, walking to the bedside and looking down at Kane, scrutinizing him.
Kane struggled, as if trying to get up and salute: "Admiral Sengoku, Vice Admiral Garp, this subordinate..."
"Stay down."
Sengoku reached out, pressing down on his shoulder. The pressure was gentle but brooked no argument.
This future Fleet Admiral's face held a rare trace of gentleness, and even a hint of barely concealed approval.
"Bogard told me everything."
"In order to stop Golden Lion, you didn't hesitate to drain your life force to trigger a celestial disaster; to defend the Navy's Justice, you even dared to attack Roger."
Sengoku took a deep breath, seemingly relieved that the Navy could produce such a figure.
"Kane, you've done well. Truly well."
"Shiki the Golden Lion's capture will be the Navy's greatest victory in nearly twenty years. The World Government places great importance on this, and Fleet Admiral Kong has personally inquired about your condition."
Kane promptly put on an "overwhelmed" expression, his eyes gleaming with "pure" light: "It was merely my duty. It's just a shame... Roger escaped. That was my failure."
"Puhahaha! If you managed to capture both Golden Lion and Roger on your first voyage, what would be left for the rest of us to do?" Garp laughed heartily, slapping the edge of Kane's bed. "Don't be too greedy, kid! What you've done this time is enough to scare the entire sea shitless!"
Sengoku nodded, adjusted his glasses, a sharp glint flashing across the lenses.
"Kane, given the magnitude of your achievements, Headquarters has decided to promote you exceptionally."
"Additionally..."
Sengoku lowered his voice, his tone becoming meaningful.
"Over at the World Government, someone is very interested in your abilities. Especially your power to 'manipulate celestial phenomena'... You should prepare yourself mentally."
The World Government?
Kane sneered inwardly.
It seemed he had indeed stirred up too much trouble this time, catching the attention of those Celestial Dragon lapdogs.
But...
Wasn't this exactly what he wanted?
The higher the position, the more advanced the sources of misconduct he could access. If he could infiltrate Mary Geoise and deliver a "righteous backstab" to the Celestial Dragons...
Just thinking about that scene made Kane feel the 800,000 points he had just calmed down start to stir again.
"Yes! Understood, sir!"
Kane replied with an upright and resolute expression.
"Please rest assured, Admiral! No matter where I am or who I face, the Justice in my heart will never waver in the slightest!"
"Good! Well said!"
Garp was moved to tears, vigorously patting Kane's leg.
"As expected of someone I've taken a liking to! Sengoku, when we get back, I'm treating this kid to three days and nights of rice crackers!"
A vein throbbed on Sengoku's forehead.
"Get lost!"